Larry Craig (ID) legislation - Outfitter Act

[homers brother]

Of course, I can't find the link now, but read an article in one of the local rags over the weekend about this legislation, which he introduced in 2004 and has brought up every year since, that (apparently) would allow "guides" exclusive use of federal wilderness areas. Implied: Joe-DIY-Wilderness hunter would be out of luck if he wanted to hunt wilderness areas.

About the only discussion I've otherwise been able to google up has been from the enviro-crowd, which I think I'd trust even less than I would Larry Craig.

So, anyone have the background on this one? I can't believe there'd be a SINGLE positive aspect of restricting a user group (hunters) from a legal activity in a PUBLIC wilderness area.

[sachiko]

If he has introduced it every year and it has gone nowhere, I would suggest that he is doing it to satisfy a big campaign contributor. I doubt there is any chance of passage. If it ever got any support, there are plenty of hunting groups and hunting publications that would come down on it like a big bag of rocks.

[Alsatian]

One story is from a Casper, Wyoming newspaper:

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2007/12/23/news/wyoming/6802037b59171f05872573b900269201.prt

The low down is that since the legislation has failed, now the same provisions are being introduced through US Forest Service rules changes which would provide preferential treatment to outfitters and guide services, while do-it-yourselfers would be second priority or excluded. It is pretty frightening to me. I have posted a thread in the Big Game Hunting section under the title "Changing Rules on National Lands?". There is a link in that post that can be used to submit comments to the US Forest Service.

This is very frightening to me, and I don't think the public is either very aware of this activity or aware of the dangers it poses. Now maybe I have been manipulated by fear mongers, that is possible. Still, it smells like a conniving, sleazy trick that probably is directed to achieving the nefarious purposes suggested. Why do outfitters and guides need any special access rights or special exclusive rights to national lands? The claim by the US Forest Service is that giving outfitters these exclusive rights is needed to improve access of the public, since most of the public accesses these lands via the outfitters. Hungh? What????! I know if I have to go through an outfitter to hunt elk in the wilderness of SW Colorado I won't be able to go -- I can't afford the $4,500 ticket. I know if I have to go through an outfitter to hunt pronghorn antelope in Wyoming I won't be able to go -- I won't spend say $1,500 for a guided pronghorn hunt. Why can't I have equal rights to either hike in, backpack in, or ride a horse into US owned lands and set up camp and hunt the white butts or whatever? It just doesn't smell right.

See the article for yourself, then go see my post under Big Game Hunting "Changing Rules on National Lands?" to get the link to the comment web page.

[pats102862]

If Larry Craig gets his way, hunting will be like europe, for the very rich and politicaly connected. We need term limits to get rid of these people on both sides of the isle.